This week as I was praying about what to share with all of you, it occured to me that I should share a story from the field, from one of the lives that is impacted by the work God has called me to. This is one of those stories…
Packing for the trip I was less excited, instead I was extremely stressed and sad. The first day of the trip I saw God move through me personally, after a listening prayer exercise I really meditated on what I had just learned and really opened my heart and ears to what God wanted to say to me; and the first thing that came into my head was “construction workers.” I had absolutely no idea what that meant but as it turns out, God did. A couple hours later while stopping at a gas station to buy sunscreen we came across eight construction workers enjoying a beer after a long days work. We didn’t end up sharing the gospel with them, but it did come up that we were on a mission trip, we just sat and talked to them for about 30 minutes letting them just tell their stories and letting them know that we truly cared for them. (Not a huge impact for God, but an impact none the less.) (:
The last night of the trip was the best for me, Steve had felt led by the Spirit to speak on emotional freedom which was definitely something I needed to hear. I could almost feel the weight of my family on my shoulders and (as I shared) I had been involved with a guy who I was not dating but acting like I was (kissing, ect.) These things had been seriously holding me back from my walk with Christ…so much so that I became afraid to pray, worried that God had bigger things to worry about than me and my issues. As I was sharing I could feel God pulling the weight off my shoulders and now I know that my prayers are just as important as everyone else’s. “
This is just one life that has been impacted by the work that God has created me to do. As a result of coming on a short term mission trip, Abigale was able to reconnect with God and learn how to let go of the baggage she had been holding on to. Abigale learned how to hear the voice of God speak to her, and is living her life in obedience of that voice! Since being home, Abigale has maintained meaningful relationships with the rest of her team, which helps establish a community of believers at her school. She has also posted online video blogs where she has shared her faith and spoke truth and life into others! She is living her faith!
Abigale’s story –
“When I found out about the New Orleans trip I signed up immediately, I was excited from the moment I heard about it. About two weeks after signing up my mom announced that she had asked my step father to move out, this was a huge blow… I wasn’t prepared to do this again (my mother and biological father got a divorce when I was 2, he is not the nicest person in the world. Things were never easy.) I didn’t expect my new father to leave as well, so leading up to the trip I was dealing with all of this at home (I have a 6 year old brother who doesn’t understand.)
It is seeing lives like hers transformed that gives me encouragement and excitement to do the work that I do. It is because of your support and prayers that I am able to be used by God in such a way that makes an eternal difference!
